State Briefs

Associated Press

Published Saturday, November 24, 2001

Investigators continue search for cause in fatal Lear Jet crash

IMPERIAL, Pa. -- Federal investigators said Friday they had no clues into what caused a private jet to veer off the runway while taking off from Pittsburgh International Airport early on Thanksgiving Day, crashing and killing two Florida men.

Airport officials said the Lear Jet 25B hadn't left the ground when it veered left about halfway down the runway around 1:08 p.m. Thursday. It crashed into a fence and burst into flames.

Killed in the crash were pilot Chris Mitchell, 41, of Boca Raton, and co-pilot Harry Fittz, 34, of Pompano Beach.

Three die in holiday fire

CENTURY -- A mother and two children were killed in an early morning fire Thursday, only hours before she planned to tell her family that she was getting married.

The woman's fiancee, Bryant Pace, 30, and his 8-year-old daughter Ashley Pace escaped the fire that broke out in the living room at 6:30 a.m. Fire investigators said the blaze was caused by faulty wiring in the ceiling.

Large donation made

TALLAHASSEE -- A former Florida A&M University student who went on to become a securities manager has made the largest single donation by an alum to the university's business program.

Michael Robinson, who graduated in 1987 with a degree in accounting, donated $100,000 toward scholarships and fees for booking guest speakers for the universitys School of Business and Industry, officials said.

Demand for vouchers for disabled students up

TALLAHASSEE -- The demand for vouchers for children with special education problems continues to grow, edging up in the middle of the school year.

The McKay Scholarships, named after Florida Senate President John McKay, are for any of Floridas 340,000 students with disabilities. It began last year with about 1,000 students.

The program started this school year with 3,770 participants. Now, near the middle of the school year, the number of students has increased to 3,909.